How To Send A Quote Using Woocommerce

How to Send a Quote Using WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide

WooCommerce is a fantastic platform for selling online, but sometimes, customers need a little more than a simple “Add to Cart” experience. Think about situations where pricing depends on quantity, custom configurations, or negotiated terms. That’s where quotes come in handy. Instead of buying directly, customers can request a personalized price for the products they want.

This article walks you through how to enable quote functionality in WooCommerce, even if you’re a total newbie! We’ll cover why quotes are useful, different methods for implementing them, and provide practical examples.

Why Use Quotes in WooCommerce?

Imagine you sell custom-printed t-shirts. A customer wants 500 shirts but needs to upload their design and choose specific shirt colors and sizes. Just throwing 500 t-shirts in a standard WooCommerce cart isn’t ideal. They need to discuss the design approval, printing process, and get a final price based on their specific requirements. A quote system allows for this back-and-forth.

Here are other scenarios where quotes shine:

• Bulk Orders: When customers buy in large quantities, they often expect a discount.
• Custom Products: Products with variable costs based on options and configurations. Think custom furniture, software development, or personalized jewelry.
• Project-Based Work: Services like web design, landscaping, or event planning, where pricing is tailored to the specific scope.
• Negotiated Deals: Where you are willing to offer special pricing to acquire or retain high-value customers.

By offering quotes, you:

• Increase Sales: Cater to customers who wouldn’t typically buy through a standard e-commerce process.
• Improve Customer Satisfaction: Provide a personalized experience and address specific needs.
• Generate Leads: Quote requests provide valuable contact information for potential customers.
• Reduce Abandoned Carts: Customers who might balk at a fixed price can start a conversation instead.

Methods for Implementing Quotes in WooCommerce

There are primarily two ways to implement a quote system in WooCommerce:

1. WooCommerce Quote Plugins: The easiest and most common method. Plugins add the necessary functionality to your WooCommerce store without requiring coding.

2. Custom Code: For more advanced users or very specific requirements, you can write custom code to handle quote requests and processing. This requires PHP and WooCommerce development knowledge. We’ll focus on plugins in this guide, as they are generally more accessible to beginners.

Using a WooCommerce Quote Plugin (The Easy Way!)

Several excellent WooCommerce quote plugins are available, both free and paid. For this example, let’s explore using the plugin named “WooCommerce Request a Quote”. There are many similar plugins available; just search “woocommerce quote” in the WordPress plugin repository.

Installation and Activation:

1. Install the Plugin: Go to your WordPress dashboard, then *Plugins > Add New*. Search for “WooCommerce Request a Quote” (or a similar plugin). Click “Install Now” and then “Activate.”

2. Configure the Plugin: Navigate to the plugin’s settings page (usually found under *WooCommerce > Settings* or under a dedicated menu item in your WordPress sidebar). Take some time to review the options.

Common Plugin Settings to Configure:

• Button Text: Change the text on the “Request a Quote” button (e.g., “Get a Quote,” “Request Pricing”). Make it compelling!
• Button Placement: Where the button appears (e.g., below the “Add to Cart” button, on the product page, in the product listing).
• Form Fields: Customize the information you want to collect in the quote request form (e.g., name, email, phone number, specific requirements). Keep it simple to encourage submissions.
• Email Notifications: Configure email notifications to you (when a quote is requested) and to the customer (confirming their request). This is crucial for a smooth workflow.
• Quote Handling Process: Some plugins allow you to directly create orders from quote requests, saving time.

How it Works for Your Customers:

1. Product Page: Customers browsing your products will see the “Request a Quote” button (or whatever text you chose).

2. Quote Request Form: Clicking the button opens a form where they can specify their needs, quantity, and any special instructions.

3. Submission: They submit the form, and you receive a notification.

How it Works for You (The Store Owner):

1. Receive the Quote Request: You receive an email (or a notification in your WooCommerce dashboard) containing the customer’s request details.

2. Prepare the Quote: Based on their request, you calculate the price, including any discounts, shipping costs, or applicable taxes.

3. Send the Quote: Using the plugin (or manually), you send the quote to the customer, usually via email. The quote should clearly outline the products, quantities, prices, and any terms and conditions.

4. Customer Approval: The customer reviews the quote and, if happy, accepts it. Many plugins allow customers to accept the quote directly, which automatically creates an order in WooCommerce.

5. Order Fulfillment: Once the quote is accepted and the order is created, you fulfill the order as you normally would.

Example:

Imagine a customer wants to buy 10 custom coffee mugs with their company logo printed on them. They visit your product page for “Custom Coffee Mugs.” They click the “Request a Quote” button. The form asks them for:

• Name: John Doe
• Email: [email protected]
• Quantity: 10
• Logo File: (Upload field)
• Special Instructions: “Please use Pantone color 185 C for the logo.”

You receive this request. You review the logo file, calculate the printing cost, and send John a quote for $75, including setup fees and shipping. John approves the quote through the plugin, and an order is automatically created in WooCommerce for 10 custom coffee mugs, ready for you to process!

Example of code

You can use the following code to add custom meta-fields in the products page for your customers to request a quote. You need to be careful where to put this code, consider child themes or plugins dedicated to inserting code.

<?php
/**
Add custom meta box to product pages
*/
function add_quote_meta_box() {
add_meta_box(
'quote_details',               // Unique ID
'Quote Request Details',      // Box title
'quote_meta_box_callback',  // Content callback function
'product',                  // Post type
'normal',                    // Context
'high'                      // Priority
);
}
add_action( 'add_meta_boxes', 'add_quote_meta_box' );

/

* Meta box content callback function

*

* @param WP_Post $post The post object

*/

function quote_meta_box_callback( $post ) {

// Add a nonce field so we can check for unauthorized access.

wp_nonce_field( ‘quote_meta_box’, ‘quote_meta_box_nonce’ );

// Get the value of the custom field if it exists

$customer_name = get_post_meta( $post->ID, ‘_customer_name’, true );

$customer_email = get_post_meta( $post->ID, ‘_customer_email’, true );

$quantity = get_post_meta( $post->ID, ‘_quantity’, true );

$message = get_post_meta( $post->ID, ‘_message’, true );

// Output the form fields

echo ‘Customer Name:
‘;

echo ‘

‘;

echo ‘Customer Email:
‘;

echo ‘

‘;

echo ‘Quantity:
‘;

echo ‘

‘;

echo ‘Message:
‘;

echo ‘‘ . esc_textarea( $message ) . ‘

‘;

}

/

* Save the meta box data

*

* @param int $post_id The ID of the post being saved.

*/

function save_quote_meta_box_data( $post_id ) {

// Check if our nonce is set.

if ( ! isset( $_POST[‘quote_meta_box_nonce’] ) ) {

return;

}

// Verify that the nonce is valid.

if ( ! wp_verify_nonce( $_POST[‘quote_meta_box_nonce’], ‘quote_meta_box’ ) ) {

return;

}

// If this is an autosave, our form has not been submitted, so we don’t want to do anything.

if ( defined( ‘DOING_AUTOSAVE’ ) && DOING_AUTOSAVE ) {

return;

}

// Check the user’s permissions.

if ( isset( $_POST[‘post_type’] ) && ‘product’ == $_POST[‘post_type’] ) {

if ( ! current_user_can( ‘edit_page’, $post_id ) ) {

return;

}

} else {

if ( ! current_user_can( ‘edit_post’, $post_id ) ) {

return;

}

}

// Sanitize user input.

$customer_name = sanitize_text_field( $_POST[‘customer_name’] );

$customer_email = sanitize_email( $_POST[‘customer_email’] );

$quantity = intval( $_POST[‘quantity’] );

$message = sanitize_textarea_field( $_POST[‘message’] );

// Update the meta field in the database.

update_post_meta( $post_id, ‘_customer_name’, $customer_name );

update_post_meta( $post_id, ‘_customer_email’, $customer_email );

update_post_meta( $post_id, ‘_quantity’, $quantity );

update_post_meta( $post_id, ‘_message’, $message );

}

add_action( ‘save_post’, ‘save_quote_meta_box_data’ );

?>

Tips for Optimizing Your Quote System

• Make the “Request a Quote” button prominent: Don’t hide it! Ensure it’s easily visible on relevant product pages.
• Keep the quote request form simple: The fewer fields, the better. Only ask for essential information.
• Respond to quote requests promptly: Speed matters! Aim to respond within 24 hours.
• Personalize your quotes: Address the customer by name and reference their specific requirements.
• Clearly state your terms and conditions: Include payment terms, shipping costs, validity period of the quote, and any other relevant information.
• Follow up: If the customer doesn’t accept the quote immediately, follow up with a friendly reminder.
• Track your quote requests: Analyze which products are generating the most quote requests. This can help you identify opportunities for new products or pricing adjustments.